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Gluten intolerance and peripheral neuropathy

Neuropathy | Last Active: Mar 27, 2022 | Replies (22)

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@scootwagon

Thanks for the information about PD. I hope there really is no connection to gluten sensitivity.

I have had some intermittent tingling in my feet over the last two years, but in the last month, it suddenly became much worse — burning, tingling, sometimes feeling cold like someone rubbed menthol on my skin — and my calves and hands began to be affected. I went to the doctor, she diagnosed polyneuropathy but could not determine the cause. She ruled out diabetes, kidney disease, throid problems, and peripheral artery disease. She referred me to a neurologist.

I have not yet seen the neurologist (I am waiting for an appointment), but doing my own research I became curious about the possibility that my PN might be caused by gluten sensitivity. I decided to start a restrictive diet. I am following the auto-immune protocol, except that I have not excluded dairy products.

The improvement was almost immediate. The feet, whose burning had kept me awake, calmed down enough for me to sleep through the night after only two days of dieting.

I should probably add that I have had intestinal problems for a long time — chronic diarrhea for the last five years. I could not figure out what was causing that, but I am hoping that this diet is going to fix that.

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Replies to "Thanks for the information about PD. I hope there really is no connection to gluten sensitivity...."

@scootwagon, I think it's great that you are doing your own research and learning as much as you can about your conditions. That's what brought me to Connect in 2016 after 20+ years of PN symptoms and deciding to make an appointment with a neurologist for a diagnosis. I was pretty bummed after the appointment. I only have numbness and some minor tingling in the legs and feet and I was diagnosed with idiopathic small fiber PN but there were no treatments that helped so the neurologist said just to followup if/when the symptoms got worse. I posted my story in another discussion here - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/310341/

There are 2 good sites that I use a lot for research on neuropathy and treatments if you haven't aleady seen them.
-- Neuropathy Commons: https://neuropathycommons.org/neuropathy/neuropathy-overview
-- Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy: https://www.foundationforpn.org/

Hoping the diet will fix the intestinal problems. I've been looking into the diet/lifestyle changes myself to help with my chronic constipation. Can you give us an update after your neurology appointment and being on the diet for awhile?